East-Tennessee Sawmills
and
Other Resources for Woodworkers

The most frequent complaint among woodworkers on the Internet seems to
be about the scarcity of good wood and the high prices. I frequently
advised people in rec.woodworking and at the now-defunct Badger Pond
Forum that their best option is to simply locate their local sawmills
and to buy there. Sometimes this is easy, sometimes it isn’t. It
certainly seems to be easier in the eastern part of Tennessee than in
many other areas of the country. As an aid to woodworkers in the
Knoxville area, I will list the sawmills and other economical
suppliers that I know of ranging as far as the bordering counties of
our neighboring states.

If you have comments about this listing, the sources, the quality of
service and material available, or if you know of other sources not
listed, please contact me. I hope to get out and scout for some more
suppliers but your leads could save me a lot of blind driving up and
down the “hollers” looking for sawmills.

Those of you who have visited here before will no doubt have noticed
that the listing is no longer in the form of a PDF file. Frankly
maintaining it in that form finally became impossible for various
technical reasons so it had to be dropped. Given that handling the
list in the present HTML form will be much easier perhaps I'll be
motivated to keep it more up-to-date. So, that didn't work out and I've
been just as lazy as ever about maintaining the list but we can keep hoping.

This company included for sake of completeness. They are a
STRICTLY WHOLESALE operation catering to the
commercial cabinet and furniture market. They sell virtually
anything these businesses might need. As such they
don’t take too kindly to a hobbyist dropping by for a
sheet of plywood or a few sticks of lumber. They are willing
to handle orders for reasonable (by their commercial
standards) quantities from members of the East Tennessee
Woodworker’s Guild however.
(The company was formerly know as Alliance Supply.)

I have not visited this mill but Bill contacted me and asked
that he be included on this list. He operates a portable
bandsaw mill and primarily operates on-site sawing the
client's wood. Since this is a service that I've been
asked about so many time it seemed only natural that I should
include this listing here. Some others on the list have
equipment which is theoretically able to do on-site sawing
but almost nobody actually provides the service. Bill says
that he occasionally has his own logs avaiable but that is
not his primary service and what is on-hand varies
constantly. You should also note that once wood is sawn you
will be responsible for drying and processing it further.

Bill says that road names and such have changed in his
location and finding his address could be problematic.
Definitely call him first! But since his primary service is
on-site sawing you may not really care where he parks his
equipment.

This is another mill that I haven't visited but Mark is a member of the East
Tennessee Woodworkers Guild and got in touch with me asking
that his Lucas mill / dehumidification kiln be included in
this list. He has just started running his kiln with his second
load of oak. He has some other species but you'd be best off calling
beforehand to see if what you want is available. Good advice for any of
the small operations listed here.

Mark describes his location as "about 5 miles SW of Maryville, ½ mile off of 411"

I have not visited this mill but Lee is a member of the East
Tennessee Woodworkers Guild and got in touch with me asking
that his bandsaw mill / dehumidification kiln be included in
this list. He had twelve species in stock when he contacted
me including some quartersawn pine which was sawn from sinker
logs retrieved from the river. He says that he also cuts free
edge slabs and rustic pieces.

A wild surmise about getting there based some map reading.
Heading south from Etowah on US Route 411 you should be
looking for Wetmore Springs Road which appears to be a
synonym for CR 854. This will be a right turn. Just in case,
I'd advise that you call ahead to verify the proper route
and to be sure that someone will be there.

What looks like a regular little hardware store has
surprises. They sell furniture hardware, kiln-dried oak and
poplar lumber, and shop grade plywood. Good prices on plywood
but it pays to inspect to find out why it was downgraded to
“shop”.

Very easy to find. Drive north on route 11E from Knoxville
toward Strawberry Plains. The store is on the left side
immediately before a Clayton mobile home sales lot.

A mid-sized mill with two saws which has another expansion in
the works as I write this. They sell kiln-dried lumber from
all of the expected Appalachian hardwood species. They will
also sell green if you want it and have a stock of veneered
plywood to match their solid wood products.

Simple to find if you don't make a boneheaded mistake
like I did the first time. Leave I-81 at exit 50 and drive
south on route 93. You will come to a crossroads where route
81 joins; go straight through and soon you will find the
sawmill on your right.

A mid-sized circular saw mill which sells local hardwoods in
the rough and green. They don’t stock huge amounts of
sawn wood but their stock of logs is immense. An interesting
operation, and one you should ask to see, is their
“back room” where they produce quartersawn white
oak for cooperages around the world.

Simple to find. The mill is located about three miles south
of the junction of 441, 338, and 411. Take 411 south from
that point and the mill will be on your right.

The original “certified sustainably-managed”
hardwood operation in Tennessee. A large supplier of
kiln-dried Appalachian wood, they also offer finished wood
products up to and including furniture. They also support
other manufacturers by prefabricating wooden parts for their
products. The annual Earth Day gathering and wood auction is
not to be missed.

Drive northeast on route 11W past Rogersville and turn north
on route 70. Follow this for a few miles and you will come to
what used to be an old school on your right. The building is
well-marked. You can also drive up I-81 and then cut west to
Rogersville. Although a bit further it often takes less time.

Obviously this isn’t all that close to Knoxville,
Nashville is more like it. I’ve included it because a
regular at Badger Pond reported it as an extremely cheap
source of air-dried local hardwoods. Like good cherry at
$1.50/bf!

From Knoxville, head toward Nashville on I-40, south on
I-840, northwest on route 41, west on route 102 (Nissan Dr),
northwest on old Nashville Hwy, southwest on Kent Dr,
northwest on Tedder Blvd, then southwest on Rocky Fork Rd. At
this point you are on your own – but the road
isn’t that long. Good luck!

A mid-sized operation selling the standard local hardwoods,
mostly green. The owner says that he does occasionally have
kiln-dried wood in stock but that it is spotty. Had a good
amount of steamed/dried walnut the day I was there.

Off of route 353 not too far from Telford. Beyond that
you’ll probably be better off calling and asking to
make sure since this is another that was found by accident
and not properly researched and recorded.

Jerry Hayes
1409 Dogwood Road
Rockwood, TN 37854
865-354-9662

An old circular saw mill Jerry admits that he is
“pretty much out of the business” although he
occasionally saws some logs when they become available. He
says he has some stock of air-dried oak, poplar, and pine
that he can part with though.

This is pure conjecture since I have never been here.
I’d try turning south on route 299 from I-40 and then
take route 70 west, looking for Dogwood Road on the left.

I have not dealt with this company but they were recommended
for inclusion on the list by a member of ETWG. To quote Joel,
the owner: "We are strictly a portable sawmill business,
going the customers site to saw logs. I do offer site
preparation for people who do not have the equipment using a
743 Bobcat equipped with a grapple bucket to stage the logs
for sawing at an additional cost to the sawing fee. We do not
saw the trees down or trim the limbs prior to sawing, that is
a different business that requires more insurance and you
have to be bonded. I do stock limited supplies of lumber in
cherry, walnut, oak and poplar for someone who needs small
qty's... As you can see on the website we have two mills.
A LT40 Super Hydraulic and a LT 50... I do have a log trailer
with a knuckleboom loader that I tow with my 2500 heavy duty
pickup with a capacity of 14,500 lbs. to move logs for
customers we saw for, again on a limited basis."

Since, in this case, the sawmill is intended to come to you
the exact location isn't of much importance. But if you
are curious their website has a map you can refer to.

Most entries in this list are about cheap lumber but
sometimes cheap isn’t the greatest motivation. Jeffries
is a family-owned retail supplier of fine wood. When you just
must have a certain piece of wood and don’t want to
hunt around the hills, head there. What you are buying here
is always top-quality kiln-dried graded lumber and the
offerings go far beyond the run-of-the-mill local sawmill
offerings and includes many exotics. This is especially
important if your shop equipment or personal inclinations are
not up to processing rough lumber into usable furniture wood.

Heading south on Broadway (route 441) from Knoxville’s
center continue until you see a huge cemetery on the left
with the huge Valley Grove church in the distance. Turn left
and drive past the church. This leads to what used to be the
old Camel tent factory but which is now a sort of industrial
park. Follow the signs to Jeffries.

A circular saw mill that seems to sell all the standard local
hardwoods. I wasn’t able to get much out of the owner
to be honest so I don’t even know if the wood is dried
or not. Perhaps I shouldn’t have shown up in the Miata
with the top down – a dead giveaway that I must be an
outsider. Take your pickup if you go and maybe you will blend
in better.

Located to the south/east of Roan Mountain on route 19E about
three miles before the North Carolina border. Sits back off
the road on the east side but is clearly visible when
traveling in either direction.

A very large operation although I didn’t get a chance
to look around. What drew my attention to it was a
semi-trailer sitting by the road and painted for use as a
billboard. Said the place was a “hardwood outlet”
but it looked and sounded like a sawmill. All the standard
hardwoods, kiln-dried, as well as dimensional construction
lumber.

Located on route 19E perhaps 15 miles before the North
Carolina border. I can’t give an exact location since I
wasn’t paying close attention and found the place only
by accident. Look on 19E north of where route 173 joins it
and you won’t be far off.

This is a bandsawmill. The owner was in the process of
building a new shelter for the equipment as well as for
drying wood when I was there. He has a bit of dried wood in
his barn but more should be available this summer.

Off of route 27 southbound from I-40, watch out for Black
Creek Road to the right. A useful landmark is a huge
retaining wall on the left side of 27 not too far before the
turning point. Drive out Black Creek and watch out for a
barn/house/heavy equipment on a dirt drive to the left. This
is the place. There was no number on the mailbox when I went
out so that won’t help you.

This is a wholesale operation that sells “by
grade” meaning that the wood is graded FAS or #1 Common
or whatever and you accept it as such – basically you
don’t get to pick through the stack and choose what you
want. Although wholesale, the owner says he will sell retail
to local woodworkers. Mill and kiln are located in NC. North
American and exotic hardwoods are available. You must call
ahead to make arrangements as the owner is often out of
town.

Not terribly difficult to find as long as you know where the
alternate campus of Pellissippi State is located in the
Liberty Street area. Otherwise, you can follow Middlebrook
Pike (route 169) west and turn left on Liberty Street. Wood
lot is located on a steep downhill.

Lonnice Moon
156 Loop Road
Rockwood, TN, 37854
865-354-1964

A near-antique circular saw mill. Owner cuts local woods but
has no drying facilities. He says that the wood leaves as
fast as he can cut it so he doesn’t have time to try
drying it.

A real bear to describe how to get here. Doubly so because my
mapping software is very confused about road names out in
this area – those that are given names are often wrong.
Try this: driving west on route 70 past Midtown look for a
Caney Ford Church right before the Roan County Park. Turn
south between these two onto Caney Creek Road. Follow this
across a yellow bridge and then keep bearing left on the main
road. At a “T” intersection, go left and look for
the Loop Road turnoff on the left side also. Good luck!

This company is a large dry kiln operation that handles
essentially every Appalachian hardwood species. They also
have a smaller retail operation that caters to local
crafters, woodworkers, and cabinet shops. I haven’t
bought there but they have been recommended as being good
people to deal with.

No map. Cold Springs Road is equivalent to route 91 north
from Mountain City and I would estimate that it isn’t
too far outside of town. As I remember, there is some
attractive scenery to be seen further up the road heading
toward the state line so this might not be a bad ride to take
with the family.

A small bandmill operation which sells very inexpensive
air-dried lumber. This place can be tough to locate,
especially if you believe the address given. Ignore the
address and look at the map and directions!

Probably the most difficult-to-find place on this list. Not
the sort of place you’d be likely to stumble over on a
Sunday drive. Heading east on route 61, look for the first
little road to the right after you cross into Grainger
county. This is Zachary road even though there is no sign to
indicate it. Head down the hill and over the next rise. When
you come to the sign “Bird Farm” turn right down
the dirt road and follow it up the hill to a barn and metal
building in the distance.

This is a BIG commercial operation but surprisingly
they say that they are willing to deal with small orders but
only in such a way as will not interfere with their main
business. Conditions: wood is green, you need to be careful
of the heavy equipment, and you cannot pick through the piles
looking for your “perfect” piece of wood (limit
your searching to the tops of the stacks!). Red and white oak
and poplar are always available, occasionally ash, cherry,
walnut are around but they never stay long.

Easy to find. Located on the north side of route 61 between
Clinton and Oliver Springs. Note that Oliver Springs Highway
IS 61 in this vicinity.

A mid-sized operation that sells the standard local
hardwoods. They deal almost entirely in green wood although
the owner says he can supply kiln-dried if the quantity is
sufficient to make it worthwhile.

Located just east of the Washington county line on route
107/81 to the west of Erwin, TN.

Max Reed
633 Whites Creek Road
Spring City, TN 37381
423-365-9331

Another small bandmill operation which sells air-dried
lumber. I’ve bought some of the best clear pine
I’ve seen here at near-giveaway prices. Max does the
best quartersawn sycamore I've seen but availability is
always limited and what he saws disappears quickly.

Head west on I-40 from Knoxville, then south on route 27. The
only landmark I use is a big new concrete bridge on a
four-lane section of the highway. Look for Whites Creek Road
just past the bridge on the left.

A bandsaw mill owned and operated by a woodworker who started
out cutting wood for his own use. He also has a vacuum kiln
but no surfacing equipment so all wood is sold rough. Most
local species are available as well as quartersawing.

I have not been to this mill personally and the owner
suggests that you contact him for instructions before setting
out. Contact by e-mail would be best:

This company has a bandsaw mill and a dehumidification kiln.
It offers custom sawing and drying of customer’s wood
but also has “a variety of species on the yard”
available for sawing. They will sell by grade although this
will entail calling in a certified grader which will add to
the overall cost. They make a specialty of processing
salvaged timber from construction clearing and beetle kill.

I have not been to this mill personally and do not have a
physical location beyond the Rugby mailing address. The owner
requests that you contact him by e-mail since he often
travels:

I haven’t visited this one but included it because I
ran into Mr. Price giving a demonstration of his portable
sawmill at the East Tennessee Woodworkers Guild picnic.

Yesterday Jeff Price sent me an email updating me on what
services and products they offer. Rather than fuss a lot with
writing myself I'll simply paraphrase his email,
more-or-less verbatim: We are able to do large and long logs.
The long dimensions can only be done at our farm. Large logs
can be done at your site. We are also able to do slabs for
those who need very wide wood. We have a kiln, planer,
molder, and 4 sided planer to do flooring, paneling, and
molding for custom orders. We also carry woods on site that
can be bought as rough sawn, kiln dried, or a finished
product.

I didn't even have a clue about where Lancing, TN might
be but Delorme Street Atlas 2004 assures me that it is on TN
Route 62 not to far west of Wartburg. Clearly I've driven
through it more than once and never noticed. Call ahead and
ask for directions and to make sure that someone will be
available. No chance to make a map yet but here is a business
card to fill the space temporarily.